The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
Dinapoli: $18.4 billion in lost money from unclaimed funds
NEW YORK >> Every day New York State Comptroller Thomas P. Dinapoli returns over $1.5 million to those who have unclaimed funds. The Comptroller’s office now holds more than 46 million accounts valued at $18.4 billion as of June.
“My office makes every effort to connect New Yorkers with their lost money,” Dinapoli said. “By joining and holding events across the state we can help individuals, companies, nonprofits and municipalities check for unclaimed funds and get their money back to them quickly and easily. To date, over $223 million has been returned this year, and we hope to help more New Yorkers in July.”
Staff members from the New York State Office of the Comptroller (OSC) will be attending community events throughout the state to provide information and assistance on unclaimed funds, including free one-on-one sessions where individuals can receive help searching for their unclaimed funds and filing claims.
In addition, OSC will be providing educational materials and hosting workshops to help individuals understand the process to get their money.
New Yorkers can access an online database administered by the Comptroller’s office to see if they have any unclaimed funds waiting for them. These funds, which total billions of dollars, originate from various sources such as utility deposits, trust funds, old bank accounts, uncashed checks, old investment accounts, insurance claims, stocks and other inactive accounts that have remained dormant for several years.
The Comptroller’s office can trace lost money from accounts that date back several decades.
In Albany County, there are 139,482 accounts with a total value of $77,255,641. Rensselaer County has 61,846 accounts with a total value of $31,657,214. Saratoga County has 79,142 accounts with a total value of $31,568,377.
There will be two events in the Capital Region this month for people to learn more about unclaimed funds. On July 12 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. there will be a coffee and a movie event at the Albany Public Library. On July 22 from noon to 3 p.m. there will be an event at the Schenectady Family Fun Day.
For more information on OSC’S unclaimed funds initiative, visit OSC’S website or contact their office directly.
Residents who cannot attend events can search for and claim their money by using the online claim system or by calling 1-800221-9311.